Specialized Encyclopedias and Dictionaries

Two of the most important sources of background information are:

• Specialized encyclopedias:

  • Have articles that are on specific topics within a particular area (A general encyclopedia would have an article on Buddhism, a religion encyclopedia would have an article on a specific Buddhist ritual)
  • The articles are written by experts in the field
  • The articles provide bibliographies that list other sources on the same topic
  • The articles typically contain cross-references to other related topics
  • Provide an introduction to specialized vocabulary

• Specialized dictionaries:

  • Provide definitions for specialized vocabulary
  • Often provide lengthy explanations associated with the vocabulary, more like a normal encyclopedia article

Locating Background Information:

• Ask a Reference Librarian for a referral